NTC issues show-cause orders vs 47 telcos for failure to block child porn materials

MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued show-cause orders to 47 internet service providers (ISPs) over their alleged violation of Republic Act No. 9975 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.

Under the law, ISPs are mandated to inform civilian law enforcement agencies upon discovery of any child porn materials running through their servers, while ensuring to update the company’s hardware and software with the technology needed to block webpages promoting or showing such photos and videos.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently approved a proposal from the Department of Justice to sanction ISPs for not fulfilling their duties under the law.

Aside from sanctions, Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar said Tuesday that an executive order (EO) strengthening cooperation among the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP), and other relevant agencies is currently being drafted by a technical working group.

The said EO would also direct the “formulation of a case management protocol” and the streamlining of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) information dissemination efforts headed by the Presidential Communications Operations Office, according to Villar.

The DOJ, Villar added, has also established communication with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office regarding pending bills addressing OSEC.

Strengthening the IACAT by providing plantilla positions and additional funding is also being studied, the justice official said.

Last September, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said over 5,500 suspicious transactions were seen in the months of March and May, separately.

AMLC said that economical challenges in view of the lockdowns as a driving force for young people to go into pornography — a basis echoed by other groups who noted that the downturn of the economy caused by the health crisis forced some students to look for ways to sustain their education.

JPV